FighterControl

The late 80's/early 90's saw a number of USAFE inter unit competitions. Memorable are the 'Excalibur' competitions which I attended at Lakenheath.
This one is 'Excalibur VII, staged on 19-21st July 1990.
For a couple of days air defence exercises were conducted out over the North Sea with other ground attack profiles being conducted over UK land targets with the finale on the Saturday being that the base commander Lakenheath authorised a viewing session for spotters before the final dispersal of the jets back to their bases.
Younger FC'ers may be confused with some of the fighter aircraft tail codes carried... older members will probably be crying
Got stuck into some scanning this week, hope you enjoy the memories. Interestingly quite of number of the F-16's and A-10's are still active operational 34 years on.

Over from the 10th TFW Alconbury A-10A 79-220 'AR'






A-10A 81-948 'AR'


Based F-111F 70-2390 '48TFW' Commander's aircraft


Bringing in senior officers from Germany C-12F 40165 from 58th MAS Rhein-Main


F-16C 86-345 'TJ' 401TFW from 401st TFW Torrejon, Spain


F-16C 84-1250 'HR' from 50th TFW Hahn, Germany


F-16C 85-444 'RS' from 86th TFW Ramstein, Germany


F-16C 85-484 'RS' 86TFW


F-16C 85-486 'RS' 86TFW


F-16C 86-329 'TJ' 401TFW




F-16C 86-360 'TJ' 401TFW


F-16C 86-367 'TJ' 401TFW


F-16C 86-546 'RS' 86TFW


F-16D 85-511 'RS' 86TFW


F-4G 'Wild Weasel' 69-7268 'SP' 52nd TFW Spangdahlem, Germany


F-4G 69-7582 'SP' 52TFW




RF-4C 68-565 'ZR' 26th TRW Zweibrucken, Germany


RF-4C 72-163 'ZR'

Another great nostalgia post. Good to see as I have no photos of this event. I went Friday afternoon and saw some arrivals but missed the Saturday as I had to go to Halton for ATC summer camp. Lovely to see those older tail codes again.

Great shots and memories, I attended a few of these. Only cost one quid to get in I think, so a bargain, plus decent burgers available too. I remember one year, one of the F-16s landed at Mildenhall instead of LN. Hopefully the pilot had a good excuse for his error.

For a couple of days air defence exercises were conducted out over the North Sea with other ground attack profiles being conducted over UK land targets.

that was the cover story the real competition was on the golf course!!

Ghastly Whisper wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:03 pm

For a couple of days air defence exercises were conducted out over the North Sea with other ground attack profiles being conducted over UK land targets.

that was the cover story the real competition was on the golf course!!

Must get the priorities right

Certainly was a good time for spotting, then unfortunately for our hobby a “wall”, came down and it was downhill from then on. At least the same wall coming down meant a safer and brighter Europe for tens of millions, until some eejit in Russia decided he wanted to turn the clock back to the dark ages.

Happy memories of getting shouted at for being in the way of a photographer on the Friday as the ZR F4’s arrived and of buying possibly one of the worst patches ever made !

Fantastic, evocative, set, Keith

‘AR’ Warthogs: they didn’t last long, did they, just like ‘WR’ F16’s didn’t

Great to see the Boss Vark

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

I went to two or three of these wonderful events, access to the Lakenheath ramp at the end of the exercise was superb. I remember the F-F16 landing at Mildenhall in error, we were up on the hill and listening to the radio. The tower was not at all smug when he said "welcome to RAF Mildenhall". I suspect he lost a few points for his team due to this error. Gordon.

Love it, love it, love it. Brought back a few memories.
F16s we're the antichrist back in the late 80s and early 90s for me, wouldn't waste Kodachrome 64 on them.

Thanks for posting.

Thanks for posting these photos, loved the variety and number of aircraft in those days!

Great set from the end of a golden era for aircraft spotting. Must surely have been the swansong of the Torrejon Vipers cos they relocated to Italy at the beginning of the '90s.

Brilliant as usual Keith - brilliant scans and content

Great to see all those types and tail codes again from the best times . Any more ‘111s as just love these?

Hope you are keeping well mate - been too long!

F3 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:13 pm

Great set from the end of a golden era for aircraft spotting. Must surely have been the swansong of the Torrejon Vipers cos they relocated to Italy at the beginning of the '90s.

I was under the impression that the Torrejon jets(Block 30), went back Stateside and went to various ANG units. While the 401st FW transferred to Aviano in name only to become a support Wing for rotational units. It wasn’t until 1994 that the 31st FW transferred from Homestead to Aviano, again in name only and took over from the 401st FW. It was later on in 1994 when the 31st FW got their first assigned flying units when the 86th FW(Block 40), at Ramstein transferred their aircraft to the 31st FW.

Terrific shots - I especially like the F-111F and shark-mouthed F-4G. Such a shame that those days of base commanders opening up the gates at short notice for a photocall are long gone.

Very nice shots and they brought back great and very fond memories of my now long gone friend Nigel. We first met at a Excalibur meet and, later, met regularly on EEAG base trips. We took the plunge to go on one of the USA trips (October 1993) organised by Alan Warnes and shared a room and a great many laughs with all the "boys". Sadly, Nige "lapsed" in the hobby until just before his death but we did manage to rekindle our memories of Excalibur when he and I again shred a room for his last aviation trip to Lakenheath/Mildenhall (a deployment of F22's were at the 'heath and Obama was making his farewell visit to the UK so his MV22's were at the 'hall). Getting old is no fun!

Thunder wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 01, 2024 11:51 pm

F3 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:13 pm

Great set from the end of a golden era for aircraft spotting. Must surely have been the swansong of the Torrejon Vipers cos they relocated to Italy at the beginning of the '90s.

I was under the impression that the Torrejon jets(Block 30), went back Stateside and went to various ANG units. While the 401st FW transferred to Aviano in name only to become a support Wing for rotational units. It wasn’t until 1994 that the 31st FW transferred from Homestead to Aviano, again in name only and took over from the 401st FW. It was later on in 1994 when the 31st FW got their first assigned flying units when the 86th FW(Block 40), at Ramstein transferred their aircraft to the 31st FW.

Thanks for the clarification.

Lovely stuff.

Those were the days....
Brilliant post, thanks for sharing!

Gordsmith wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 01, 2024 8:17 am

I went to two or three of these wonderful events, access to the Lakenheath ramp at the end of the exercise was superb. I remember the F-F16 landing at Mildenhall in error, we were up on the hill and listening to the radio. The tower was not at all smug when he said "welcome to RAF Mildenhall". I suspect he lost a few points for his team due to this error. Gordon.

Yes it was one of the F-16C four ships from Hahn (84-302) in 'Excalibur III' in April 1988. He was 'disqualified', the jet was left at Mildenhall and he was transported by bus across to Lakenheath for debrief.... ooooeeerr